Dawid Malan and bowlers guided England to a 67-run series-victory over Pakistan in the grand finale of the seven-match T20I series here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, which the English team took advantage of and posted a massive 210-run target on the scoreboard before restricting the hosts’ to runs 142 in 20 overs, thanks to a Malan’s 78 runs in 47 balls and sensational bowling performance.
Reece Topley and Chris Woakes gave England an early boost as they sent Mohammad Rizwan (1) and Babar Azam (4) back to the pavilion, respectively.
However, Shan Masood played a 56-run knock, but he couldn’t do proper hitting to help Pakistan reach the big total.
Iftikhar Ahmed scored 19 runs, while Khushdil Shah managed to bag 27 runs.
Woakes bagged three wickets, while David Willey claimed two wickets.
Adil Rashid and Sam Curran claimed a scalp each to topple the hosts’ batting order.
Earlier, misfielding costed Pakistan a lot as Dawid Malan made the most of his dropped catches to help England post mammoth 209-3 in 20 overs against Pakistan in series deciding seventh T20I.
Malan got two chances, first when skipper Babar Azam dropped him and later on Mohammad Wasim Jr in 18th over of Haris Rauf.
Except for Haris, Pakistani bowlers struggled to make their presence felt in the last contest.
England openers Alex Hales and Phil Salt looked dangerous as the powerful duo started baton charge from the very start. The two batters scored 39 runs in four overs before Mohammad Hasnain got rid of Hales.
The right-handed batter scored 18 laced with three boundaries. Dangerous-looking Salt, the hero from Friday night, remained unlucky to get run-out thanks to Shadab Khan’s straight and accurate throw to the stumps from short third man position.
Salt unlikely had to walk off after scoring just 20 runs.
Malan was pick of England’s innings as the left-hander remained not out for 78 laced with eight boundaries and three sixes. His powerful show at the crease somewhere credited Pakistani fielders who dropped him twice.
Ben Duckett scored 30 before getting run-out by exceptional Mohammad Rizwan whereas Harry Brook once again proved to be a real PSL product as he remained not out for 46 off 29 balls including a boundary and four sixes. He was also dropped by Babar off Haris.
Hasnain was the lone wicket-taker from Pakistan.
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